(Back of front cover)
Samuel S. Riley, (81st Rcn) 809 Sixth Street Southeast, Roanoke, Virginia, the newly elected President of the 1st Armored Division Association. Although Sam has long been an indefatigable worker for the good of the Association, he probably was the most surprised man at Reunion when named for the office.
(Page one)
From Samuel S. Riley (81st Rcn), 809 Sixth St., S.E., Roanoke, Va. "I wish to thank you, the members of the First Armored Division Association, from the bottom of my heart for the high honor you bestowed upon me in Chicago. No words can describe how I felt when I realized that I had been chosen your President.
"I will never forget how wonderful everyone present at the Reunion was to me. The memory of your sincere kindness will always remain very dear to me.
"It will be a difficult job filling the shoes of the outstanding presidents who have preceded me but, encouraged by your help and your faith in me, I am going to do everything in my power to be a good President of the finest outfit that ever served in the United States Army.
"Our Association is the finest and unquestionably one of the strongest organizations of its type in the United States. Only through vigorous participation in its activities and keeping up our dues can we remain leaders in the field. I strongly urge each of you to encourage others to join, to talk it up to your former buddies, and to write and tell them about our excellent BULLETIN and the wonderful fellowship we enjoy at the Annual Reunions.
"It would be difficult for me to express just how much the fellowship of these Reunions means to me. The anticipation and the planning too are great fun. Personally, the Reunion is a year-round satisfaction: if I'm not actually there, I'm thinking about the last one or making plans for the next one.
"And the beauty of it is - I'm never disappointed. My only disappointment lies in the fact that some of our old friends can't or don't attend. The Reunion presents a wonderful opportunity to enjoy the comradeship of old buddies and their families.
"Our meetings give us the privilige of associating again with old friends and the opportunity of meeting new ones who have shared the same hardships and dangers and occasional fun and of reminiscing with them about the good old days as well as the bad ones. Then too, it never fails to bring to mind, if not to words, the many who can never attend.
"Again my heartfelt appreciation for your faith in me."
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